PR guru Ron Berkowitz sues restaurants over unpaid fees

Ron Berkowitz’s Berk Communications has filed a lawsuit against a group of three restaurants seeking roughly $180,166 in allegedly unpaid fees. The establishments include spots that feature chefs Masaharu Morimoto and Robbie Felice, though neither chef is named as a defendant in the suit.

Montclair Hospitality Group hired Berk Communications in July of last year to handle promotions and public relations. Court papers filed in New York County Supreme Court show the group agreed to pay $20,000 per month for six months, plus expenses and a $5,000-per-month fund for "food, beverage, catering, or other hospitality services," with the contract set to renew for another six months unless canceled.

The filings say payments stopped in January of this year and the group ceased responding to emails about the missing cash by March. Berkowitz’s attorneys say the company owes unpaid fees, $20,000 for every month remaining under the contract, $60,000 for the food and drink fund, plus interest and legal fees, bringing the claimed total to $180,166.

United States, New York County

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